Dusting off his Derby disappointment, Cox presses on with plans
:quality(75))
Brad Cox did not notch his first outright Kentucky Derby win last weekend, but he still has a loaded stable and is hatching plans for his two Derby runners and a host of other high-level performers.
Cox, who won the 2021 Derby with Mandaloun after Medina Spirit was disqualified for a positive drug test, had to scratch Fulleffort from the Derby when the colt was diagnosed with a chipped ankle, leaving him with two Derby starters. Further Ado, the most tepid of favorites at 5-1, finished 13th, while Commandment, the 6-1 fourth choice, was seventh with a tough trip.
Racing by himself in 13th around the first turn, Commandment started pushing forward soon after turning onto the backstretch, continued gaining ground into a strong pace going to the far turn, and was actively ridden while rapidly passing horses going wide around the bend. Commandent nearly reached the lead at the quarter pole but faded late after taking a solid midstretch bump.
Both horses have returned to training. Plans aren’t set for Further Ado, though Cox expects him to race somewhere during June, while connections will eye the third leg of the Triple Crown with Commandment.
“I think we could look at the Belmont with him. See who’s running and how he’s doing,” Cox said.
The 3-year-old filly Prom Queen won the Gulfstream Park Oaks from a few lengths off the pace, but going down the backstretch in the Kentucky Oaks, Prom Queen raced far behind the leaders – 12th of 13 runners. Her strong stretch run could only net fifth, though Prom Queen quickly galloped out well in front. Prom Queen also has resumed training, and Cox called her a “possibility” for the Acorn at Saratoga.
Three-year-old filly On Time Girl won the Eight Belles Stakes over seven furlongs on May 1, and for her, Cox has the Grade 1 Test over the same trip on Aug. 8 at Saratoga as a long-term goal.
A seven-furlong Grade 1 at Saratoga, perhaps the Aug. 29 Allen Jerkens, also holds appeal as a target for the 3-year-old colt Cannoneer. On March 27, Cannoneer won a first-level one-turn mile allowance at Gulfstream Park by 9 1/4 lengths with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. While Cox didn’t rule out a June 6 start in the Woody Stephens at Saratoga, Cannoneer cut his leg in a stall accident and has missed training. Cox has the seven-furlong Maxfield on June 28 at Churchill as a backup.
Eclatant, a 4-year-old filly who on April 4 at Keeneland won the Grade 1 Madison with a 109 Beyer, also shows a checkered workout pattern, but Cox said all is well. Eclatant has as a near-term target the Chicago Stakes on June 20 at Churchill, with her major goals being the Ballerina at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.